Maurice joyce



(No Model.)

M. JOYCE. STEREOTYPE BLOCK.

. Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

we Nam-us Perms ca, PMDYO-UYNOW WASHINGYON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE JOYCE, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

STEREOTYPE-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,753, dated September 2, 1890.

Application filed May 13, 1889. Serial No, 310,509. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAURICE JOYCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at V3811- ington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stereotype-Blocks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and light stereotype-block for the support of stereotype-plates.

My object is also to provide a totally new means of attachment between stereotype plates and blocks, and so proportion the parts of the block as to transmit stresses through the same without danger of bending up or biting into the plates.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a block which shall be easily adjusted to columns of different widths, and which shall be easily arranged to hold one, two, or more ribbed plates thereon.

To this end I have constructed my invention as described in the following specification and with such novel features as are particularly set forth in the claims at the end of the same.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of one of my stereotypeblocks, showing the arrangements of side ribs and of apertures down the fiat plates of the same. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of one of my single-column stereotype-blocks, showing the mode of attachment of the plates therewith. Fig. 3 is a perspective of one of my single-column stereotype-blocks cut through the top plate for the attachment of the stereotype-plate. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a stereotype-block provided with side ribs, for the purpose hereinafter described. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a double stereotype-block, showing the dimensions of standard columns and the means of adjusting the block to use with columnplates of various widths.

My blocks are made of a peculiar arrangement of ribs and bearing-plates, together with straining-plates, the last two being, if desired, perforated at regular intervals, for a purpose hereinafter specified.

The bearing-plate is shown at A in the drawings, and the straining-plate is shown at B, it being so called because it is designed to relieve the strain from the bearing-plate by dividing the thrust of the tightening devices. If it were not for the presence of this plate the strain of the tightening devices would tend to bend the whole block together at the under side, and thus destroy the printingsurfac by the inequality of the bearing-plate. The standing or vertical ribs 0 are employed of course for the transmission of the power of the printing-press to the plate. In the single-column block there are preferably three rows of rectangular passages, makinga sort of honey-comb of the block, the top and bottom of said passages being perforated at intervals, for the purpose hereinafter described. These holes need not necessarily be in both the top and bottom, as one of the main purposes of the use of the same is confined to their employment in the top plate alone. These apertures are shown atD. They are preferably cast with the whole plate; but they may be bored or reamed without departing from the scope of my invention.

It will be observed that the top and bottom plates or the bearing and the straining plate are extended, as shown at E and F, beyond the outer vertical ribs 0. The purpose of this arrangement is particularly indicated in Fig. 5. This represents a block arranged for the printing of a double column. The dimensions of the double column and of various single columns are shown in the figure above the same, and it will be seen that there are considerable variations in these dimen sions. Hitherto the blocks were always cast of the proper size for the column intended to be used, or else powerful mechanical planes were employed for the purpose of planing the sides of the solid blocks in order to bring them down to the proper size.

The object of my invention, as disclosed in the side ribs, is the provision of parts which may be easily planed away by hand in order to bring any given block down to the right size. For this purpose the only rib absolutely necessary is the rib which continues the top plate or bearing-plate and which when planed actually varies the surface upon which the stereotype-plate is borne. The second side rib is, however, employed for the purpose of aiding in transmitting the pressure and preventing the doubling of the plate inward at the bottom, thus throwing the whole double column out of the printing plane. When a block for double columns is used, the planing is done on both sides of the same and the whole brought down to the proper size. It is not necessary that these ribs should constitute the extensions of true plates, for they may be more ribs cast onto the side of the ordinary solid plate-block shown in Fig. i or on the blocks having a curved under surface, as shown in dotted lines in the same figure. In such positions these ribs will have the same function that they have when they are used with my honeycomb plates, and may be as easily shaved or planed and for the same purpose.

The stereotype-plate is shown as attached in Fig. 2, where the top plate of the block is seen to be cut entirely through, a lug G on the bottom of the plate G hooking into the top or bearing plate of the block on one side of said cut. This means of attachment is found to present substantial improvements over the ordinary groove means, inasmuch as there is no difficulty in the casting of the block thus made and none of the danger of the distortion of the Whole through the shrinkage of the grooved lug on the block or on the plate. Again, when through contraction or other cause the slot is not of the proper size to receive the lug on the plate, the process of planing is very much simpler than that employed, where it is necessary to plane Within the undercut surface of the groove in the lug on the back of the block. It is found that when the lug is attached in this manner to my plate the straining-plate has to be raised slightly in order to bring the same near the middle of the depth of the whole block. This is for the purpose of anticipating excessive pressures near the top of the plate, in which case there would be a decided tendency to fold or bend the block inward at the top, thus causing the uneven placing of the bearing-surface. The straining-plate is shown in this position in Fig. 2 at B. The use of this position of the straining-plate is explained above, and this end is subserved by placing this plate approximately at the middle without being exact.

Where there are no accidental pressures to be guarded against and it is only sought to relieve the top plate at the groove from a regular and expectedpressure arising from the division of the stresses of the tightening devices between the two side ribs, the middle section only of the straining-plate need be are carried on to the full depth of the block,

being thus longer underneath the strainingplate than is the case where there is no slot in the top plate.

In many cases I find it convenient to employ wooden blocks, preferably completely filling up the spaces between the plates, either with perforations in the top plate or not. The object of this is to allow of the use of nails for fastening the stereotype-plate to the top of the block. The holes in rows parallel to the vertical ribs are different from cross-bars, which have been used in the art by me, although there are doubtless apertures between the bars. The fact is that the main advantage of the use of these apertures, as shown in this specification, is to facilitate the sawing of the groove through which the lug on the stereotype-plate passes. These plates need not necessarily be fastened by a single groove, as shown in Fig. 3, as it is evident that doublelugged plates may be employed and used in connection with double grooves cut in the side sections of the block, as shown in dotted lines Y in Fig. 5.v I therefore do not intend to limit myself to the use of single lugs on the stereotype-plates.

There are various details of this device which may be varied by the exercise of mechanical skill, and I do not therefore wish to limit myself to all the details of the same.

That I claim isr 1. A stereotype-block composed of apair of plates braced by vertical ribs which extend below the bottom of the lower plate, substantially as described. I

2. A stereotype-block composed of a pair of plates braced by vertical ribs, the edges of both of said plates projecting beyond the outer sides of said ribs, substantially as specified.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of. two witnesses.

MAURICE JOYCE. Witnesses:

E. B. STOCKING, II. SUTHERLAND. 

